Wait and watch in Kolkata

The Writers’ Buildings has, meanwhile, decided to wait and watch before taking the next step in the still-volatile area. Following a high-level meeting to discuss the Nandigram incident, state Home Secretary P R Ray said people in the area would be told that there is no reason to “get excited” because the government is yet to arrive at a final proposal on land acquisition.

“The government will take steps after tension subsides,” Ray said. “There will be interaction with the villagers.”

The Home secretary said police are monitoring the area and nothing can prevent the administration from restoring the rule of law. “If the administration wants, it can enter anywhere,” he said, “but we want things to get normal (first).” Ray said the administration is not interested in crushing an agitation. “People have the right to agitate (and) preventing demonstrations is not our policy.”

Meanwhile, CPI(M-L) Liberation state secretary Kartick Pal said the police must release all their cadres arrested in connection with Wednesday’s violence in Nandigram.